Endless band blade cake slicing machine



Feb. 21, 1950 E. COPENHAVER 2,498,615

ENDLESS BAND BLADE CAKE SLICING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lm/enzor E/mer L. Cope/Ma er" TBM a:

Feb. 21, 1950 E. L. COPENHAVER ENDLESS BAND'BLADE CAKE sucme MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 4, 1945 E/mr' L. Copen/ml ermum Feb. 21, 1950 E. L. COPENHAVER 2,498,515

ENDLESS BAND BLADE CAKE sucmc; MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a z F 30 ammo M Feb. 21, 1950 E. COPENHAVER 2,498,615

ENDLESS BAND BLADE CAKE sucmc MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENDLESS BAND BLADE CAKE SLICING MACHINE Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,409

Claims.

The device of the present invention comprises a cake slicing or cake slabbing machine, which is especially adapted for use in bakeries although it is susceptible of many other uses.

Difficulties have been incurred in use of high speed machines employed in cake cutting especially in blade failure; a clean entering cut in the initial impingement of the blade with the cake periphery, as well as later while the blade is passing through the cake, is essential, not only to effect the desired out, but also to prevent surface fracture and erosion. After experiment I have found by following the teaching of the present invention that a continuous blade or saw may be used to cut cake in slices of any desired thickness and at a rate of speed heretofore not thought to be possible while accomplishing the desired precision cutting from the moment of contact with the cake until the blade completely clears the latter.

Objects of this invention include a relatively simple portable machine wherein the cake is held in a predetermined fixed position, while being cut, without crushing or breaking the cake and with the utilization of a minimum amount of pressure; to provide novel means for adjusting the cutting mechanism as a unit; to provide means for automatically tensioning of the cutting blade; to provide novel lubricating means for positively covering the surface area of the blade with a lubricant immediately preceding engagement of the blade with the cake; and to provide a blade cleaner through which the blade is trained for relieving the blade of adhering particles after leaving the cake.

It has been found in actual use that the device of the present invention will operate to cut in excess of 1200 dozen cakes a day, working six hours a day and by a change in the speed ratios of the motor and driving mechanism this output may be substantially increased. To do this without cake fracture and to effect precision cut, it is necessary that the blade be kept constantly and thoroughly lubricated. I have found that for this purpose, it is desirable to employ a novel lubricating well through which the blade passes just before entering the cake zone, the well being constantly supplied with mineral oil or like lubricant, supplied from a receptacle forming a part of the slicing machine. It is also important in preventing cake fracture that the cake be firmly held without crushing and this is accomplished in the present invention through the medium of a friction belt which cooperates with the cake carrying 2 belt, the friction belt being slidable during contact of the cake therewith.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cake slicing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the machine illustrating its application with a cake mounted on the cake-carrying belt, portions of the machine being removed to disclose details;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the machine entity.

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary transverse sectional view through the cutter showing to advantage the cutting blade adjusting means looking from one end of the machine.

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary elevational view showing to advantage the cutter adjusting means looking from one side of the machine.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the machine with parts removed to disclose details, and

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of the lubricating means employed in the present invention.

The present invention includes a portable frame or support 8 which may be of any desired shape or sizeand is equipped with caster bearing legs 9. The frame includes a shelf 10 upon which is mounted a motor I I and a speed reducer I2. Also included in the frame 8 is an endless cake carrying belt l3 which is trained over rollers l4 mounted in the opposite ends of the frame as shown to advantage in Figures 1 and 6. The roller at one end of the frame projects beyond one side of the latter and carries a sprocket wheel l5 which is engaged by a sprocket chain IS. The chain 16 is likewise engaged with a sprocket I! which is carried by and in operative connection with the speed reducer l2. The speed reducer and motor II are in operative connection by means of a belt I8. Consequently, when the motor ll is operated, motion is imparted to the endless cake carrying belt l3 through the speed reducer l2 and the sprocket chain H5 in an obvious manner.

A cake slicing or slabbing unit generally designated I 9 is mounted on the frame 8. The unit includes wheels 20 and 2| around which an endless blade or saw 22 extends. The blade is'operated by rotation of the wheels 20 and 2!. Motion is imparted to the wheel 26 through a pulley 23 which is operatively engaged to the motor II by a drive belt 24. The belt 24 is engaged by an idler 25 for an obvious purpose. It is now apparent locity of travel of thebelt l3 in an obvious The frame 8 also includes a super-structure generally designated 26 which constitutes-a supporting means for a friction belt 27, motor 28 for-oper-- ating the belt, lubricating receptacle 29 and means including a screw operating handle 30for"adiust-' Theendless belt 27 is ing the cutting unit l9. carried by friction rollers 3i adaptedto' be op'er= ated by the motor 28 through a belt- 32-.-- The friction rollers and belt are vertically adjustable by means 33 including a. spring pressednutcar ried by a threaded shaft 'which constitutes a part ofthe'super' structure26: The belt zl is adapted for engagement with the top of thecahe'in oreler' tolioldthe latter in aipredietermined position ears i-n'g. thecutting operati'om The beltissomounted, howeventhat it slipsi'duringmassage oi the cake th'erebetween and: the belt [3* to prevent breakage or mutilation of the' cake;v Atthesam'e time, positive means is providecl fori'holding:the cake in a pre determiiredposition on the belt" it until after the cak'e'z hascleared' the blade *2 2;

The'ctevic e of the present invention additionally includes suitable meansfor raising and lowering the slicingublade 22-to perrriitsl-ices :or slabs of any desired thickness to be cut. The adjustihgmeans used; Mathis-purpose includes vertical threaded shafts 3 carried by the frame 8; 'l'heshaftsex tend: through bearing collars 3 which form-a part of a sub-frame 36, upon the ends'ofwhich latter the WheelsZIl aIidQ-hare rotatably-mduntedi The threaded shafts 34: may be simultaneously oper ated', -throughmanipulation' of the handle 3%,; due to ach'ain-3-l which. comp'lements and is engaged with sprockets-tfl carried by'thesh'aftsfim It is obvious that vertical adjustment orthe sub-frame litrwults in relative 'movement of the'blade- 22-, with -respect to the belt t3; permitting: continuous adjustment of the blade td-permit cutting slit-es of any thickness:

The blade '22 j ust-before its"contact with at cake is adapted to be thoroughly lubricated and for this purpose I have: devised: a lubricating: means or blade: eiler 3a of special design as illustrated in Figure l This means-compris'esa screw-shaft 39*, the base of which 'i's relatively large: Atth'e top-ofthe screw a bossdll is formed which carries super-imposed upper: andlower wells 4i and lz respectively; As is apparent from Figure. '7, the tcip oi-F the shaft 't-l' isgradually reduced andan intermediatepart 43 thereof is smooth; A bearing liis mountecl'for free movementon theshaft portion litof= the-screw. The balll ng A l-is com stantly engaged by the blade 22 during travel'of' the latter through anopening-forined in the lower well-52a- The upp'er surface of the lower Weil -ta ls dished-out to provide: asurnp ll into vihieh the lubricant gravitate's from the upper we'll-4i: The lubricant passesirom the sump lfi into openings which are lowtedirnmed'iatelyabove-thematic 22. The hub of-the welzl tl is extended inwardly toprovide a collar 4?; which engages the tones the shaft portion tiof the shaft 3-9" arid al'so the base of the sump 45- The toptof the wen-st alsodished out-to+provide-a reservoir: 4% communicates withopenings as, through which latter the lubricant gravitates intot'he'sump 4 5;

The lubricant assembly, including the two wells 4| and 42 and bearing 44, are held from displacement on the top of the shaft 39' by a nut 50. This nut is engaged with complemental threads on the upper reduced end of the screw shaft and is adapted to bear against the base of the reservoir 48', as shown in Figure '7;- The screvw shaft is in detachableengagement with the sub-frame 36 and positioned as shown to advantage in Figure 4. 1615 held from displacement in the frame by suitable means-lil shown to advantage in Figure 4, the blade oiler extends upwardly from one side of the frame adjacent one of the lateral margins of the belt 2'1. Parallel-ly-arran'ged' on the opposite side of the frame'and also" carried by the sub-frame 36 is a blade cleaner 52 through which the blade 22 passes. The cleaner may be of any desired constructionin order to relieve the blade of adhering particles. The cleaner is detachabl to permit removaiifor cleaning or replacement of 'pa rts'i The lubricant-receptacle zit-is providedr with an' outlet tube ss; the outlet end of whichoverliangs the blade oile'r '39'; Preferably tl'ie lubriant empIoyed is a;--mineral-oil whichwl'l-l'gravitate into the reservoir 4-8 of the upper wall and passthrough openings wintry the sump w'of the lower well through openings as for impingement with the bla'd'e 2'25 By'this arrangement, have found that the oil will 1 be distributed in" a; manner to eflect consum'mat'e lubricationof the surfacearea of the blade 22 during" passage of. the latter through the blade oiler. At the sametime no surplus oil adheres to the blade: The receptacle ze is valvediri any suitable manner-as indicated at 5'4: 7

The motor H maybee-ngaged'in circuit, in a manner well known in'the art; withthe city cur rent through'a'ca'b'le' s'aor'the like; Operation of the motor correspondingly, sets in operation; at the option of" the operator, the" cake carrying belt l3 and the blade 22. The friction: belt'21 is simultaneously operated-by the motor" 28' which is likewise circuited with city current in anydesire'd manner.

In" addition to the verticaladjustment of the" blade 22ftensio'ning of'th'e latter maybe accompushed by suitable tensioning means fis mounte'd' on'th'e sub-frame 3B and engaged with theaxl'e of tli'e tensioning wheel 21'.

Preferably the; mechanism employedher'ein is' encased as illustrated Figures. For this urpose; detachable housingsSTare' employed which completely cover the'vvhe'els 20' and Zlafidthe other mechanism carried by the frame anda're V detachablyengaged by'a'plate 581 It'ismfcourse,

apparent that the plate '58" andhousings 51 may be'exp'editiously removedwhemit is desired to gain access to any'part ofthe mechanism for adjustment; repair or replacement.

Although I have-herein shown" and described" a" preferred form of'this invention; I am neverthelessaware'that various changes-may be made therein withinth-e scopepf tne'claims hereto appended.

1: A: cake slicer comprising a frame; an endless cake carrying belt on" the frame; ablade ar ranged to operate in super-posed relation to the belt; abladeoi-ler-"on one side of said-'bel-tthrough' whichtlie' blade:- travelspreparatory to -engagemerit-with cake;- the oiler including a ro tatably moo ted oil wellin communication with the bladei and a: bladecleaner our the opposite side of the belt through which the blade travels after having passed through the cake.

2. A cake slicer comprising a support, a cake conveyor mounted in the frame, a blade arranged to operate on a cake carried by the conveyor, means overhanging the conveyor and blade to hold the cake from displacement during slicing, a blade oiler on one side of the conveyor through which the blade passes before engaging the cake, the oiler including a rotatably mounted oil well in communication with the blade, and a blade cleaner on the other side of the conveyor through which the blade is drawn after leaving the cake.

3. A cake slicer including a support, a cake conveyor on the support, a blade movable across the conveyor to slice cake carried by the latter, a blade oiler on one side of the conveyor through which the blade passes before engaging the cake, the oiler including a rotatably mounted oil well in communication with the blade, a blade cleaner on the opposite side of the conveyor through which the blade passes after the cuting operation and means engaged with said blade, oiler and cleaner to effect unit adjustment thereof when the thickness of the cake slice is to be increased or diminished.

4. A cake slicer comprising a support; a cake conveyor on the support; a blade movable across the conveyor to slice cake carried by the latter; a superstructure, carried by the support, overhanging the blade and conveyor; a slip belt carried by the superstructure; means carried on the superstructure to operate said belt; a blade oiler engaged with the superstructure, through which the blade passes before contact with the ill cake; a lubricant receptacle carried by the superstructure above the blade oiler and in communication with the latter; and a blade cleaner through which the blade passes after the cutting operation.

5. A cake slicer comprising a frame, an endless cake carrying belt mounted in the frame, an endless blade on the frame arranged to operate in super-posed relation to the belt, and a blade oiler on the frame at one side of the belt to lubricate the blade preparatory to its engagement with the cake, the blade oiler including rotatably mounted metallic disks between which the blade ,is arranged to slide, the upper of said disks being provided with an oil receiving well which is in communication with the space between thedisks.

ELMER L. COPENHAVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

